JP2010195491A - Liquid tank - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a constitution of a liquid tank having a valve structure capable of feeding air into a tank as internal liquid is fed to the external, and inhibiting the liquid from leaking through the valve structure. <P>SOLUTION: The valve structure 9 provided at a feed water tank includes a valve disc 22, a supporting hole 31 which supports this valve disc 22, and a steel ball 28. The valve disc 22 includes an umbrella section 23 which comes in contact with and separates from a valve seat 21 and a stem section 24 which projects from this umbrella section 23. The space 27 for holding the steel ball includes a recess 30. The steel ball 28 does not come in contact with the stem section 24 and the valve disc 22 closes the valve by being brought into contact with the valve seat 21 with hydraulic pressure in the condition of selected figure in which the valve structure 9 is located at the side part of the feed water tank and the valve seat 21 is sunk under the surface of the water vertically. When the valve structure 9 is made to come to the top surface side of the feed water tank by rotating the feed water tank by 90° from the condition in the preferred figure, since the steel ball 28 is fallen into the recess 30 due to the dead load and also tilts and moves the stem section 24, the umbrella section 23 is separated from the valve seat 21, and the valve is opened. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a configuration of a liquid tank including a valve structure having a check valve.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a cartridge-type water supply tank that stores water for a humidifier, and this water supply tank has a tank cap having a water outlet that is opened and closed by a water stop valve. Yes.

JP 2005-127713 A

  However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, the water in the tank is supplied to the humidifier body through the water outlet, and as the amount of water decreases, the air in the upper layer in the tank tends to become negative pressure, There is a risk of disrupting the supply. When the water supply to the apparatus is stopped, there is a problem that trouble occurs in the apparatus or it is stopped by the protection function of the apparatus, so that the operation cannot be continued.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its main purpose is to provide a valve structure that can avoid negative pressure by supplying air into the tank as the liquid inside is supplied to the outside. Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid tank configuration that does not leak liquid through the valve structure.

  The problems to be solved by the present invention are as described above. Next, means for solving the problems and the effects thereof will be described.

  The liquid tank of the present invention has a container body capable of storing liquid, an opening formed in the container body, and a tank cap capable of closing the opening, so that the tank cap is on the upper side. In the liquid tank in which the liquid in the container main body can be supplied to the apparatus by setting the container main body sideways in the apparatus, the tank cap includes an opening, a valve body capable of closing the opening, A pusher that is movable to at least two positions, a first position that pushes and opens the valve body, and a second position that releases the push of the valve body, and a storage space that houses the pusher When the liquid tank is turned sideways, the valve structure is in the first direction, and the pusher moves to the first position by its own weight, thereby opening the valve body. Air is the container body When the liquid tank flows into the vertical direction, the valve structure becomes a second direction different from the first direction, and the pusher moves to the second position by its own weight, The valve body is closed by the pressure of the liquid.

  With this configuration, when the valve structure is in the second direction, the valve can be easily closed to prevent liquid leakage, and when the valve structure is in the first direction, the valve body can be reliably opened by pushing the valve body. Can do. That is, air can be appropriately supplied into the liquid tank when necessary, and liquid leakage can be reliably prevented. Further, since the tank cap has a valve structure, the container body side does not have a complicated configuration. For this reason, manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  In the present invention, the valve body includes a valve portion capable of closing the opening and a protruding portion protruding from the valve portion, and the pusher is tilted by pushing the protruding portion in the first position. In the second position, it is preferable to release the tilt of the protrusion.

  With this configuration, when the valve structure is in the first direction, the valve body can be peeled off from the valve seat by the tilting of the projecting portion by the pushing body, and the valve can be reliably opened.

  Moreover, in this invention, it is preferable that the said pushing body is comprised so that it may not contact the said protrusion part in a said 2nd position.

  With this configuration, when the valve structure is in the second direction, it is possible to reliably avoid the pusher from tilting the protruding portion, so that it is possible to prevent the valve from opening against the intention of the valve structure.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the storage space is circular, and the protrusion is disposed at the center of the storage space, and the protrusion is configured to be tiltable in any direction of 360 °. .

  With this configuration, regardless of the mounting direction of the valve structure, if the first direction is set, the pusher can reliably tilt the protrusion and open the valve.

  Moreover, in this invention, it is preferable that the said valve structure further has the support part which inserts and supports the said protrusion part.

  With this configuration, since play is formed between the support portion and the protrusion portion, the protrusion portion can be easily tilted by the pusher.

  In the present invention, the pusher is preferably a steel ball.

  With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost by adopting a widely used steel ball as the pusher.

  Further, in the present invention, the first position is a position where the pusher has fallen into a recess provided in a wall portion constituting the accommodation space, and the second position is the pusher in the recess. It is preferable that the position is not depressed.

  With this configuration, it is possible to realize a simple configuration capable of switching between tilting / releasing of the protruding portion.

  In the present invention, the valve body is configured to be able to contact and separate with respect to the valve seat, the first direction is a direction in which the valve seat is substantially horizontal, and the second direction is the valve seat. Is preferably in a substantially vertical orientation.

  With this configuration, it is possible to provide a simple valve structure capable of switching between opening and closing by rotating approximately 90 °.

  According to the liquid tank of the present invention, when the valve structure is in the second direction, the valve can be easily closed to prevent liquid leakage, and when the valve structure is in the first direction, the valve body is reliably pushed by the pushing body. The valve can be opened. That is, air can be appropriately supplied into the liquid tank when necessary, and liquid leakage can be reliably prevented. Further, since the tank cap has a valve structure, the container body side does not have a complicated configuration. For this reason, manufacturing cost can be reduced.

It is a figure which shows the usage method of the water supply tank provided with the valve structure which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (a) is a figure which shows a mode that water is poured in a water supply tank, (b) is the water supply with which water was filled. The figure which shows a mode that a tank is conveyed, (c) is a figure which shows a mode that the water supply tank was set to the apparatus. The cross-sectional enlarged view which shows the mode of the valve structure corresponding to FIG.1 (b). The cross-sectional enlarged view which shows the mode of the valve structure corresponding to FIG.1 (c).

  Next, embodiments of the invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a view showing a method of using a water supply tank having a valve structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) shows a state in which water is poured into the water supply tank, and (b) shows water. The figure which shows a mode that the filled water supply tank is conveyed, (c) is a figure which shows a mode that the water supply tank was set to the apparatus. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the state of the valve structure corresponding to FIG. 1B, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the state of the valve structure corresponding to FIG.

  FIG. 1A shows a cartridge-type water supply tank (liquid tank) 1 for supplying water to the apparatus, and this water supply tank 1 includes a hollow container body 2 capable of storing water (liquid), A circular opening 3 formed in the container body 2, a circular screw-cap tank cap 4 capable of closing the opening 3, a discharge port 5 provided at an appropriate position of the container body 2, A discharge valve 6 capable of opening and closing the outlet 5.

  The container body 2 is formed into an elongated hollow shape with, for example, a synthetic resin, and a handle 7 for transportation is integrally formed on a side portion thereof. The tank cap 4 is provided with an air hole 8 and supplies air from the air hole 8 into the container body 2 and prevents water leakage from the container body 2 through the air hole 8. A valve structure 9 is provided.

  In order to supply water to the apparatus with the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 1A, first, the water supply tank 1 is placed horizontally, the tank cap 4 is removed, and water is poured toward the exposed opening 3. . At this time, the discharge valve 6 is closed. After filling the container body 2 with a sufficient amount of water, the opening 3 is closed with the tank cap 4, and the handle 7 is hung vertically by hanging the handle 7 as shown in FIG. 1 (b). (At this time, the air hole 8 and the valve structure 9 are located on the side of the water supply tank 1), and transport to the target device. At the time of transportation, even if the water surface is above the air hole 8, the valve structure 9 is closed, so that water does not leak from the air hole 8. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 1 (c), the water supply tank 1 is set sideways with respect to the apparatus 10 so that the air holes 8 and the valve structure 9 are located on the upper surface side of the water supply tank 1, and the discharge port 5 Is inserted into the water inlet 11 of the apparatus 10. Then, an appropriate mechanism on the apparatus 10 side forcibly opens the discharge valve 6, so that the water in the container body 2 can be supplied to the apparatus 10 side through the water inlet 11. At the time of this setting, since the valve structure 9 is opened, air is appropriately supplied from the air hole 8 into the container body 2 so that the pressure of the air in the container body 2 can be kept equal to the atmospheric pressure. .

  Next, the valve structure 9 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The valve structure 9 is provided inside the tank cap 4 (on the back surface side). The valve structure 9 includes a valve body 22 that can contact and separate from the valve seat 21. The valve body 22 is configured in a substantially mushroom shape having an umbrella part (valve part) 23 and a round bar-like bar part (projection part) 24 integrally formed so as to protrude from the center of the umbrella part 23. ing. The umbrella portion 23 is in close contact with the valve seat 21 so that a through hole (opening) 25 provided in a penetrating manner in the valve seat 21 is closed and closed.

  A cylindrical housing wall 26 protrudes from the back surface of the tank cap 4, and a circular steel ball housing space 27 is formed inside the housing wall 26. One steel ball 28 as a pusher is accommodated in the steel ball accommodating space 27. The diameter of the steel ball housing space 27 formed in a circular shape is set to be slightly larger than twice the diameter of the steel ball 28. A through hole-like air hole 8 formed in the tank cap 4 is provided so as to communicate the steel ball housing space 27 and the external space.

  A valve seat member 29 is fixed to the front end surface of the housing wall 26, and the steel ball housing space 27 is covered by the valve seat member 29. That is, the valve seat member 29 constitutes a wall portion of the steel ball housing space 27 together with the housing wall 26 and the like. In addition, an appropriate sealing member for preventing water leakage may be provided at a fixed portion between the valve seat member 29 and the accommodating wall 26.

  The valve seat member 29 is formed in a substantially disc shape, and the valve seat 21 is formed on the surface of the valve seat member 29 opposite to the steel ball housing space 27 side. A circular recess 30 is formed on the surface of the valve seat member 29 facing the steel ball housing space 27 side. The diameter of the recess 30 is set slightly smaller than the diameter of the steel ball housing space 27. The concave portion 30 is arranged concentrically with the steel ball housing space 27, and a support hole (support portion) 31 for supporting the rod portion 24 included in the valve body 22 is formed at the center thereof. Around the support hole 31, a plurality of flow holes 25 are formed on the circumference. The flow hole 25 is provided so as to communicate the space in the container body 2 with the steel ball housing space 27.

  The rod portion 24 of the valve body 22 is loosely inserted into the support hole 31 from the back surface side of the tank cap 4, and the tip thereof protrudes into the steel ball housing space 27. As a result, the base portion of the rod portion 24 is supported by the support hole 31 with appropriate play. In addition, a spherical large diameter portion 32 is integrally formed at a portion near the base portion of the rod portion 24, and the large diameter portion 32 prevents the rod portion 24 from being removed. The rod portion 24 is disposed substantially at the center of the steel ball housing space 27 formed in a circular shape, and is configured such that the steel ball 28 can be positioned at any 360 ° around the rod portion 24. Has been.

  With the above configuration, FIG. 2 shows a state of the valve structure 9 when the water supply tank 1 is in the posture shown in FIG. 1B (when the valve seat 21 is directed vertically). At this time, the steel ball 28 is moved to the lower end position (radially outward position, second position) of the steel ball housing space 27 by its own weight. In this state, the steel ball 28 contacts the rod portion 24. Not. And since the valve body 22 is pushed by the water pressure in the container main body 2 to bring the umbrella part 23 into close contact with the valve seat 21, the valve closed state is realized, and the water in the container main body 2 passes through the circulation hole 25 and the air hole 8. There is no leakage outside.

  On the other hand, FIG. 3 shows the state of the valve structure 9 when the water supply tank 1 is in the posture shown in FIG. 1C (when the valve seat 21 is oriented horizontally). At this time, since the valve seat member 29 is located below the steel ball 28, the steel ball 28 moves by its own weight so as to fall into the recess 30 formed on the upper surface of the valve seat member 29. That is, the steel ball 28 moves by its own weight to a position slightly on the center side of the steel ball housing space 27 (a radially inward position, a first position). As a result, the rod portion 24 of the valve body 22 is pushed down by the steel ball 28 and tilted, whereby the umbrella portion 23 is inclined and is surely separated from the valve seat 21 to open. As a result, air can enter the container body 2 through the air holes 8 and the flow holes 25.

  Even if the steel ball 28 is omitted in the valve structure 9 of the present embodiment, if the posture shown in FIG. 3 is adopted, the valve body 22 naturally descends due to its own weight, and the umbrella portion 23 moves away from the valve seat 21 and opens. It is possible to do. However, there is a high possibility that the umbrella portion 23 will stick to the valve seat 21 and will not fall due to the surface tension of the water adhering to the valve seat 21 or the umbrella portion 23 or the adhesive force of impurities mixed in the water. In this respect, in the present embodiment, the entire ball body 22 is tilted so that the steel ball 28 leans against the rod portion 24, so that the umbrella portion 23 is peeled off from the valve seat 21 and the valve structure 9 is smoothly opened. Can be valved. Therefore, air can be reliably supplied into the container body 2 to make the pressure in the container body 2 equal to the atmospheric pressure, and the water in the container body 2 can be smoothly supplied to the device 10 shown in FIG. it can.

  As described above, the water supply tank 1 according to the present embodiment includes a container main body 2 capable of storing water, an opening 3 formed in the container main body 2, and a tank cap 4 capable of closing the opening 3. In the water supply tank 1 in which the water in the container body 2 can be supplied to the apparatus 10 by setting the container body 2 in the apparatus 10 with the container body 2 facing sideways so that the tank cap 4 is on the upper side, the tank cap 4 is The flow hole 25, the valve body 22 capable of closing the flow hole 25, the first position (FIG. 3) for pushing the valve body 22 to open the valve, and the second for releasing the push of the valve body 22. The valve structure 9 has a steel ball 28 movable to at least two positions (FIG. 2) and a receiving space 27 for storing the steel ball 28. When the water supply tank 1 is turned sideways, the valve structure 9 is in the first direction (FIG. 3) and the steel ball 28 is moved to the first position by its own weight. Flows into the container body 2 and the water supply tank 1 is oriented vertically, the valve structure 9 becomes a second direction (FIG. 2) different from the first direction, and the steel ball 28 moves to the second position by its own weight. Then, the valve body 22 is closed by the water pressure in the container body 2.

  As a result, when the valve structure 9 is in the second direction (FIG. 2), it can be easily closed to prevent water leakage, and when it is in the first direction (FIG. 3), the valve element 22 by the steel ball 28 is used. The valve body 22 can be reliably opened by pushing the valve. That is, when necessary, air can be appropriately supplied into the tank and water leakage can be reliably prevented. In addition, since the tank cap 4 includes the valve structure 9, the container body 2 side does not have a complicated configuration, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the valve body 22 includes an umbrella portion 23 that can close the flow hole 25 and a rod portion 24 that protrudes from the umbrella portion 23. The steel ball 28 is tilted by pushing the rod portion 24 at the first position (FIG. 3), and the tilt of the rod portion 24 is released at the second position (FIG. 2). Thereby, when the valve structure 9 is set to the first direction (FIG. 3), the valve element 22 can be peeled off from the valve seat 21 by the tilting of the rod portion 24 by the steel ball 28, and the valve can be opened more reliably. .

  In the present embodiment, the steel ball 28 is configured not to contact the rod portion 24 at the second position (FIG. 2). Thereby, since it can avoid reliably that the steel ball 28 pushes the rod part 24 when it is set as the said 2nd direction, the valve opening contrary to the intention of the valve structure 9 can be prevented.

  Furthermore, the valve structure 9 of the present embodiment includes a circular steel ball housing space 27 for housing the steel ball 28, and the rod portion 24 is disposed at the center of the steel ball housing space 27. The rod portion 24 is configured to be tiltable in any direction of 360 °. Therefore, it is not necessary to match the mounting direction of the valve structure 9 to a specific direction. For example, the valve structure 9 of the present embodiment is provided in the tank cap 4 as a screw lid that closes the opening 3, and the valve structure 9 is directed to various rotational phases depending on the screwing condition of the tank cap 4. become. However, regardless of the orientation of the valve structure 9 of this embodiment, the rod portion 24 is pushed by the steel ball 28 when the posture shown in FIG.

  Further, since the support hole 31 supports the rod portion 24 by loosely inserting it, the rod portion 24 can be easily tilted by the steel ball 28 by the amount of play.

  In the present embodiment, the rod portion 24 is tilted by the steel ball 28. That is, since the steel ball 28 that is widely distributed and inexpensive is employed as the pusher, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, in the said 1st position, the said steel ball 28 has fallen in the recessed part 30 with which the valve seat member 29 was provided, as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the steel ball 28 does not fall into the recess 30 in the second position. Thereby, the simple structure which can switch tilting / tilting cancellation | release of the bar part 24 is implement | achieved.

  In the valve structure 9, the valve body 22 is configured to be able to contact and separate from the valve seat 21, and the first direction (FIG. 3) is a direction in which the valve seat 21 is substantially horizontal. The second direction (FIG. 2) is set so that the valve seat 21 is in a substantially vertical direction. Thereby, the simple valve structure 9 which can be opened and closed by rotating 90 degrees can be provided.

  Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the above is an example, and can be modified as follows, for example.

  The shape of the valve body 22 and the like can be variously changed. For example, the umbrella portion 23 can be configured in a plate shape or a conical shape, or the rod portion 24 can be changed so as to protrude from other than the center of the umbrella portion 23. Moreover, it can replace with the round bar-shaped bar part 24, for example, can be set as the bar part protruded in the shape of a square bar, or can be made into the plate-shaped part protruded in plate shape. Further, the valve body can be changed to a configuration in which the rod part is omitted and the steel ball 28 directly pushes the umbrella part (valve part) and slides or tilts the valve body to open the valve body. Further, the circular recess 30 can be changed to an annular groove centered on the support hole 31.

  As the pusher that pushes the valve body 22, various shapes such as a rectangular parallelepiped, a rod-like body, a polygonal column, and a weight can be employed instead of the steel ball 28. The material of the pusher is not limited to steel, and can be changed to other various materials.

  The shape and usage of the water supply tank 1 and the number and arrangement of the valve structures 9 are arbitrary and can be changed according to circumstances.

  In addition to the water supply tank, the valve structure 9 can be applied to other liquid tanks such as an oil tank and a fuel tank.

1 Water supply tank (liquid tank)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Container body 3 Opening part 4 Tank cap 8 Air hole 9 Valve structure 10 Apparatus 11 Water inlet 21 Valve seat 22 Valve body 23 Umbrella part (valve part)
24 Rod (protrusion)
25 Distribution hole (opening)
26 Housing Wall 27 Steel Ball Housing Space 28 Steel Ball (Pushing Element)
29 Valve seat member 30 Recessed portion 31 Support hole (support portion)
32 Large diameter part

Claims (8)

A container main body capable of storing liquid; an opening formed in the container main body; and a tank cap capable of closing the opening, and the container main body is turned sideways so that the tank cap is on the upper side. In a liquid tank in which the liquid in the container body can be supplied to the apparatus by being set in the apparatus,
The tank cap includes at least one of an opening, a valve body capable of closing the opening, a first position where the valve body is pushed to open, and a second position where the pushing of the valve body is released. A valve structure having a pusher movable to two positions, and a housing space for housing the pusher,
When the liquid tank is turned sideways, the valve structure is in the first direction, and the pusher moves to the first position by its own weight, so that the valve body is opened and air enters the container body. Inflow,
When the liquid tank is oriented vertically, the valve structure becomes a second direction different from the first direction, the pusher moves to the second position by its own weight, and the pressure of the liquid in the container body The valve body is closed by the above. The valve body includes a valve portion capable of closing the opening, and a protruding portion protruding from the valve portion,
2. The liquid tank according to claim 1, wherein the pusher is tilted by pushing the protrusion at the first position, and the tilt of the protrusion is released at the second position.   The liquid tank according to claim 2, wherein the pusher is configured not to contact the protrusion at the second position. The accommodating space is circular,
4. The liquid tank according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion is arranged at the center of the housing space, and the protrusion is configured to be tiltable in any direction of 360 °.   The liquid tank according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the valve structure further includes a support portion that loosely inserts and supports the projecting portion.   The liquid tank according to claim 1, wherein the pusher is a steel ball. The first position is a position where the pusher has fallen into a recess provided in a wall part constituting the accommodation space,
The liquid tank according to claim 1, wherein the second position is a position where the pusher does not fall into the recess. The valve body is configured to be able to contact and separate from the valve seat,
The first orientation is an orientation in which the valve seat is substantially horizontal;
The liquid tank according to claim 1, wherein the second direction is a direction in which the valve seat is substantially vertical.

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